It was an emotional start for the Samoa 7s team at the Dubai 7s as they ran onto the field against Canada in their first pool match.
The players wore black armbands to honor the victims of the measles epidemic in Samoa which has claimed 62 lives.
A moment of silence was also observed before the game which Samoa went on to win 19-12.
In their opening game of the Dubai Sevens against Canada, the Samoan team wear a black armband to honour the victims of the measles epidemic which has taken over 40 lives in Samoa pic.twitter.com/pjUy6Tb7n1
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 5, 2019
Earlier this week, Samoan player Laaloi Leilua had to leave Dubai to be with his family as his four-week-old baby girl had contracted measles.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s team beat Japan 24-17 in their first pool match.
Fiji will now take on Argentina in their second pool match at 10.04 tonight before taking on France in their last pool match at 4.02am tomorrow.
The quarterfinals will be held at 8.14pm tomorrow, the semifinals will be at 12am Sunday while the final will be at 4.02am this Sunday.
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